Absence of female-induced luteinizing hormone release in orchidectomized, sexually active mice

This experiment was designed to determine whether the reflexive LH pulses induced in male mice by exposure to a female are dependent upon the presence of the testes. B6D2F1 males were studied because, unlike most males, these hybrids remain sexually active indefinitely after castration, demonstrating that they still recognize females and are sexually arousable. We reasoned that if LH reflexes occur independently of the testes, then exposing castrated B6D2F1 males to a female should elicit a pulse. We observed female-induced pulses in 67% of intact, naive males and 80% of intact, sexually experienced males, but they were absent in castrated, sexually experienced males. Spontaneous pulses were too frequent in castrated, naive males to distinguish potential LH reflexes. Thus, the induction of LH reflexes depends upon the presence of the testes in these hybrid males. Secondarily we found more frequent spontaneous pulses in sexually naive than in experienced mice regardless of their gonadal status. These unexpected results imply that long-term mating activity slows the pace of spontaneous LH pulses in these hybrids. Considered together, the differential effects of the testes and sexual experience on both types of LH pulses suggest that two distinct pulse-generating mechanisms exist in male mice.